BBC:
Severe droughts in the US and Russia and the growth in the use
of corn for biofuels have led to significant price increases
for basic foods. According to an Oxfam report, 40% of the US
corn crop is used for fuels; in addition, the US Renewable Fuel
Standard mandates that 15 billion gallons of domestic corn
ethanol be produced by 2022. Lars Hansen of Novozymes in
Denmark says that fuel makers' demand for corn can be met by
using the nonfood portions of the crops. Novozymes and several
other companies have begun establishing factories that can
process crop residue to produce biofuels and alternatives to
petroleum-based plastics. Hansen believes that 20% of Europe's
agricultural residue, converted to biofuels, could meet half of
Europe's gasoline demand.
